Chicago Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins is back in the crosshairs of the fanbase after comments at the GM Meetings that put the spotlight right back on the team’s offense - and, by extension, the pitching plans that still have to be sorted out.
Hawkins told Marquee Sports Network, “Offensively, we have a great core coming back ... feel really good about that. That’s why a lot of our focus is going to be on the pitching side.”
That kind of line is bound to get attention, especially from a fanbase that has already grown weary of Hawkins. He came in with a reputation for helping build pitching depth on the cheap, but the Cubs still haven’t delivered on that front in a way that’s satisfied frustrated supporters. Add in his infamous “2032” comments, and he’s given critics plenty to work with.
There is some logic to what he’s saying. The Cubs do have pieces coming back, including Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman, both of whom are set to return after strong 2026 seasons.
In Crow-Armstrong’s case, it was historic. That said, the picture gets a lot murkier once you look at the rest of the roster.
Chicago is also expected to lose Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ in free agency, along with Carson Kelly, which would leave several openings on the position-player side. Happ wasn’t at his usual level this year, but he still brought the kind of steady offense the Cubs have counted on for years.
Suzuki’s departure would sting even more. Over five seasons in Chicago, he’s been one of the league’s most reliable power bats, and unless something shocking happens, he’s headed elsewhere in 2027.
Even beyond those looming exits, the offense has real questions attached to the names Hawkins is calling the core. Michael Busch needs to rediscover the power he showed in 2024 after his slugging percentage dropped by 130 points year over year.
Dansby Swanson had one huge week, but for most of 2026 he was a major offensive liability. Nico Hoerner also ran into a lot of bad luck, though that may simply be part of what he is as a hitter based on his profile.
And while Crow-Armstrong was spectacular, it’s not realistic to expect him to repeat a 40/40, 10-WAR kind of season every year.
So when Hawkins says the offense is in good shape, it’s easy to see why Cubs fans bristle. The foundation may be there, but there are enough holes, questions, and likely departures to make that statement feel a lot less secure than he probably intended.
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Suzukis price tag is expected to be hefty, with his market value projected at more than $109 million over four years, and that naturally brings the conversation back to fit as much as talent. His age adds another layer to the equation, leaving the Red Sox to weigh whether the bat is worth the commitment and how aggressive they want to be if they decide to pursue him further. [Read more 🡒]